by Jill Shiraki | Mar 18, 2025 | Classes & Events
Criminals, a book reading and conversation
Saturday, April 26, 2 pm
Join Host Steven Okazaki with guests Judi Nihei and Jan Masaoka, for a book reading and conversation on Ben Masaoka’s Criminals and the Post-War Sansei Experience. Masaoka’s moving debut novel tells the story of a brother and sister struggling to break out of a small Japanese American community in the late 1950s and early 60s.
Criminals follows the lives of a sister and brother, Ruth and Hank Tanazaki, as they struggle to free themselves from the weight of their parents’ generation in a small Japanese American community in Los Angeles in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This poignant story of the double-edged nature of community—a force that supports the group, at cost to the individual—explores the possibilities and limits of seeking personal freedom through creativity. Masaoka’s dazzling, deeply-moving debut is also an eloquent addition to the canon of Asian American literature.
In Criminals, America is Godzilla rising from the sea at Venice Beach to stomp on the Japanese American Dream, barely noticing the dreamers below as they fight back with rocks, sticks and gaman. Masaoka’s hang-loose brilliance takes us on a vividly observed, wonderfully quirky, and deeply moving exploration of generational trauma. He captures the desires, blows, and little victories of a family on the fringes of a community where everyone is trying so hard not to rock the boat, they don’t notice their children are adrift. —Steven Okazaki, Academy Award-winning filmmaker
Join us for a book reading, book sales, and conversation.
Ben Masaoka (1952–2024), born and raised in Venice, California, took off for Hawai’i as soon he could, living on the beach and working odd jobs so he could surf. He eventually settled in Seattle where he married, taught High School English, and raised a family. His short stories have been published in the Chicago Review of Books and Catamaran Literary Reader. CRIMINALS is his first and only novel. He died in September 2024 a few weeks before it was published.
Steven Okazaki was in an All-Japanese American Boy Scout Troop with Ben Masaoka in 1964. “It was a time when Japanese Americans did nearly everything together,” he says. “And then it started to change. Especially in Venice, where we grew up, there was a lot of stuff coming at you really fast. In high school, I was the artist and Ben was the surfer, that was his identity. He was the coolest person I knew.”
Judi Nihei met Ben at a screening of Steven‘s Unfinished Business in Seattle. She says, “I’m grateful his voice is being heard.”
Jan Masaoka, Ben’s first cousin, says: “Ben’s book is a time machine. It transported me back to the Japanese American world and our family life in LA in the 1950s.”
by Jill Shiraki | Mar 10, 2025 | Classes & Events, Other News
BOTANICAL PRINTING ON PAPER
Saturday, May 31 or Sunday, June 1, 10 am to 4 pm – CLASS IS FULL, waitlist only
Learn to make prints on paper with natures own special botanicals. We will look at how to make papers print what nature can give. You can use the results for cards, origami, books and more. Delve into the world of botanical printing, using natural leaves, flowers, roots or fruits of naure. All materials will be provided for the workshop. Instructor Dorothy Yuki, an innovative designer.
Dorothy Yuki began as a fashion designer immediately after college but soon she became a partner of a manufacturing company, In Good Company, and designed kitchen soft goods and linens. She served as a production and design consultant for music production companies and start-ups, She returned to designing linens for Macy’s in the 80’s and lived internationally.in Barcelona Spain, Lisbon, Portugal, Montevideo Uruguay and Tequisquiapan Queretaro Mexico. Now in her 70’s and living in San Francisco, she is engaged in many volunteer activities, Ruth’s Table, Artseed, SCRAP-sf, and FabMo. She also mentored at Bay High School. She was past President of Friends of Calligraphy and presently a Master Educator for the Macy’s Fashion Incubator San Francisco. She still has the time to do ‘art’ and has worked on projects for MMOCA, Flax Art and Design and Kalligraphia.
This workshop has been generously sponsored by Steve Ichinaga. Discounted Workshop Fee: $50 Space is limited. RSVP by May 15th and select your preferred date. A list of dried and fresh plants that you can bring with you will be provided after you sign up. The class is full. We are starting a waitlist for advance notice of a future Botanical Printing workshop.
by Jill Shiraki | Jan 24, 2025 | Classes & Events, Other News
Flavors of Spring
Friday, March 28
5:30 to 8:30 pm
BLOC 15, Jack London Square
Join us for a festive evening of food, wine, brew and live music
by Bay Area’s favorite R&B band: PRIVATE PRACTICE.
Don’t miss the Early Bird Special
Tickets for $125 until Feb 21st
Regular ticket price is $150, from February 22nd.
Purchase tickets online or send checks payable to:
J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville, CA 94608.
Must be postmarked by March 24, 2025.
For more info, contact Tiffany Nguyen, tiffany@j-sei.org
by Jill Shiraki | Jan 15, 2025 | Classes & Events, Other News
J-Sei’s 34th Annual Crab Feed
We received such a warm welcome at The Fratellanza Club that we decided to host J-Sei’s Annual Crab Feed there again! They are located one block east of J-Sei and have on-site parking.
Feast on fresh Dungeness crab, Asian salad, garlic noodles, rolls, desserts, and beverages with your family and friends at J-Sei’s in-person, sit-down, family-style crab feed! (Menu subject to change depending on availability of crab.)
Enjoy music, no host bar, and time to greet friends, socialize and mingle from 5 pm. Dinner begins at 6 pm There will be one seating time for this family-style event.
Live band, no host bar, and raffle drawing: 5:00 to 6:00 pm
Doors to dining room and seating open: 6:00 pm
Dinner : 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Dinner tickets: adults $75, children 12 & under $30
Sorry, no To-Go meals available.
RSVP by Sunday, January 26, 2025. – SALES NOW CLOSED!
Two Options for RESERVATIONS
Sign up Online
(1) To pay online use the donorbox (in next column). For custom amount, calculate your total amount and type the amount. Check box to add the number of tickets in the comment box.
– OR –
Send by Mail
(1) Download and complete the form on the Crab Feed flyer. (2) Send the form with a check and mail to: J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED!
Thank you for your support!
by Jill Shiraki | Jan 15, 2025 | American Harvest, Classes & Events, Lament in the Night, Minor Feelings, Phone Booth at the Edge
Mizuko: True Sprit – Meet Artist and Writer Art Nomura
Saturday, February 8, 2024, 2 pm
Mizuko: True Spirit is an epic American-immigrant tale of hardship, assimilation, and the eventual triumph that ensued. When the Takahashi’s, one of the wealthiest families in western Japan lost their great fortune in 1900, five-year old Mizuko Takahashi went from riches to rags. Mizuko’s lifetime in Japan and America offers the reader an intimate look into the world of an Asian immigrant. This book is the story of one woman’s efforts to surmount racism, sexism, and poverty in the 20th century. Featured is a riveting accounting of the matriarch’s life in Manzanar Concentration Camp for three years beginning in 1942.
Art Nomura will share his book, the creative process of memoir writing, and inspiration for his work.
Art Nomura has worked as a painter, sculptor, potter, filmmaker, writer, and New Media artist since 1968. Several of his works have themes directly connected to the Asian American experience. His work has screened on PBS, cable, and in festivals, galleries, museums, and universities worldwide. Nomura has taught media production and writing since 1981.He is Professor Emeritus in Film/TV Production at the School of Film and Television, Loyola Marymount University.
RSVP for this free event.
